Marking a final step in the legislative process, the Council of the European Union today approved the EU AI Act. In March, the European Parliament overwhelmingly endorsed the AI Act. The Act will next be published in the Official Journal. The law begins to go into force across the EU 20 days afterward.

CoE adopted the first-ever international legally binding treaty aimed at ensuring the respect of human rights, the rule of law and democracy legal standards in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

Germany's privacy regulators are positioning themselves to play a central role in governing AI systems as new rules loom. The Data Protection Conference issued extensive guidance on lawfully deploying AI applications involving personal data. The recommendations cover legal bases, transparency, anti-discrimination checks and other requirements.

European Commission launches formal proceedings against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, over potential violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA). Explore the Commission's concerns regarding deceptive advertising, political content visibility, and the availability of real-time monitoring tools. Stay informed on the investigation's progress and its implications for digital platforms and democratic processes in the EU.

The British government announced a new law that will criminalize the creation of sexually explicit 'deepfake' images without consent. Under the new legislation, set to be introduced as an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, those convicted of this offense will face prosecution and an unlimited fine.

Last week witnessed a key milestone as the Council of Europe finalized the draft Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, set to become the first international treaty on AI. However, concerns persist over the convention's differentiated approach to regulating the private sector.

The European Union has launched a series of initiatives last week to enhance electoral integrity and address the challenges posed by AI in the lead-up to the 2024 European Parliament elections.

The past week witnessed significant developments in AI policy, as the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union confronted the rapid advancement of the technology and its wide-ranging implications.

Updated AI Index Ranks Policies and Practices in 80 Countries - Canada, Japan, Korea, and Colombia, Slovenia and the Netherlands Rank at Top.

The Council of Europe has released the Explanatory Memo to aid in the interpretation of the proposed AI Treaty. The Explanatory Memo provides background, context, and examples to help explain the meaning of the various Articles contained in the AI Treaty.

Both the AI Treaty and the Explanatory Memo will be considered by the Council of Ministers of the COE at a meeting on 29 April 2024.

The French Competition Authority (Autorité de la concurrence) has fined Google €250 million for failing to comply with commitments made in June 2022. The Autorité found that Google breached its commitment to cooperate with the monitoring trustee and failed to comply with four of its seven commitments aimed at ensuring good faith negotiations and transparent assessment of remuneration for related rights.

The Italian Data Protection Authority (GPDP) underscored the critical need for independent and impartial supervisory authorities in implementing the European Artificial Intelligence Act.

(Picture: © GPDP)

Today the Committee of Ministers transmitted the draft Framework Convention on artificial intelligence, human rights, democracy and the rule of law to the Parliamentary Assembly and invited the latter to give an opinion as soon as possible.

The European Commission, together with European Research Area countries and stakeholders, has put forward a set of guidelines to support the European research community in their responsible use of generative AI. The guidelines, based on principles of research integrity and trustworthy AI, aim to address key opportunities and challenges as the technology rapidly spreads across all domains, including science.

Breaking News! European Parliament Approves EU AI Act!

The UK's Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) and the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) announced enhancements to the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS) Hub.

CAIDP has joined forces with AlgorithmWatch, the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting (ECNL), and over 90 other civil society organizations and prominent academics to ensure the upcoming global AI treaty, being finalized by the Council of Europe, provides robust protection for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. The treaty, set to be the first binding international agreement on AI, aims to address the growing impact of AI systems on society.

The European AI Office will support the development and use of trustworthy AI, while protecting against AI risks. The AI Office was established within the European Commission as the centre of AI expertise and forms the foundation for a single European AI governance system.

Canadian and global nonprofit organizations and leaders call on the Government of Canada to ensure that the world’s first binding international treaty on Artificial Intelligence (AI) - the Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI, Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law - rejects any private sector carve-out and unequivocally commits to safeguarding human rights from AI risks and harms no matter the source. Become a signatory now!

As the negotiation of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law is entering its final phase this week, we have submitted, with tremendous support of many human rights defenders, the Citizens Declaration on the Council of Europe AI Treaty Negotiation.